Essendon’s five-point win over Adelaide on Friday night has been marred by a last-second controversial umpiring decision.
With the Bombers desperately trying to stop the Crows from scoring in the dying seconds, Sam Draper dived on a loose ball deep in defence and held it in as he was tackled by two Crows.
Adelaide players widely appealed for holding the ball, only for the umpire to dubiously call ball up – denying Taylor Walker a shot at goal to win the game – as the final siren sounded to seal the result.
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A furious Walker was left disputing the call with the umpire in a bitter ending for the home side – an ending the AFL will likely be made to address on Saturday.
“Adelaide might’ve thought they were unfortunate given big Sam Draper decided to lay on top of the footy. Not sure you can do that,” Demons legend Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy post-match.
“It’s unfair to isolate it into one incident at the end. But it looks to me like he fell on it and then hooked it back in.”
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley firmly believed it should’ve been called holding the ball against Draper, calling it a “brain fade” that should’ve been penalised.
“He’s made sure it’s there and lied on it. Technically in any part on the field at any time of the game, that is holding the ball. It was a little tap in then he laid on it,” Buckley said.
“The reaction of the players was clear too. The umpire made the decision that was a ball up before the siren went because you saw the Adelaide players put their head in their hands (implying) ‘that should’ve been a free kick’.
“Then the Essendon guys go up. It was a clear decision unaffected by the final siren.”
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown highlighted: “It’s not a brain fade now, it’s a winning moment.”
After watching vision of Draper cheekily mimic his dive on the ball to teammates minutes later, Hawthorn legend Jordan Lewis, who was initially unsure whether it was holding the ball, admitted: “I’ve changed my decision.”
Brown said of the Draper reenactment: “Just rubbing it in now!”
Though Essendon was clearly the better team all night – as reflected by its statistical dominance – it’ll be left counting its lucky stars after that ending in one sure to be debated by the footy world.
With it, the Bombers improved to 4-2 on the season ahead of next week’s blockbuster Anzac Day clash against Collingwood.
Essendon skipper Zach Merrett conceded it was nice to be on the right end of a close result following last year’s loss to Port Adelaide after Dan Houston’s goal after the siren.
“I’ll be honest I was holding my breath a little bit that last few seconds,” Merrett said of Friday night’s thrilling finish on Fox Footy.
“We obviously learned the hard way last year against Port Adelaide kicking it out and Houston kicking an amazing goal.
“We’ve certainly spent a lot of time and work and energy on those moments. To execute it for the most part was very pleasing.
“But no doubt it was a line ball call.”
